Mission Priority Examen
The Process
A Steering Committee chaired by the Vice-President for Mission & Identity and made up of faculty and staff representatives from across the university will be responsible for guiding Loyola through the Examen.
The Institutional Examen moves through several stages, outlined here:
- School commits to Examen during a given year. (LoyNO: 2019-2020)
- National Coordinating Committee sends school documents describing the process, offers conference call/meeting to answer questions. (LoyNO: August/ September 2019)
- School and Province Higher Ed Assistant select peer visitors.(LoyNO:August/ September 2019)
- School submits one-page timetable/local approach for their Examen.(LoyNO:August /September 2019)
- School gathers opinions, identifies recent Jesuit Mission Priorities and decides which, if any, to change, and writes a summative Self-Study report.* [see below](LoyNO: August - October 2019)
- The Self-Study is sent to the Peer Visit Committee (LoyNO: one month before Peer Visit)
- Peer Committee visits. (LoyNO:TBD)
- After the visit, the Peer Committee sends draft report back to give school opportunity to correct factual errors, express objections, and amend priorities in light of draft Peer Report. (LoyNO: TBD)
- Provincial sends his advice, with final Peer Visit Report, to Fr. General. Jesuit Conference President sends his advice to Fr. General.(LoyNO:TBD)
- Fr. General sends a letter to Provincial, who communicates content to school, other local constituencies including bishop, AJCU President, and National Coordinating Committee.(LoyNO:TBD)
- In light of Fr. General’s response, school works to implement its mission priorities.(LoyNO:TBD)
The Self-Study
The centerpiece of the process is the production of a self-study. Using the document , Loyola is asked to identify strengths and weaknesses with respect to mission effectiveness, to examine and evaluate our mission goals, and to establish two or three concrete priorities for mission enhancement during the coming 5-10 years.
In developing the self-study and formulating these mission priorities, the Steering Committee will seek input from individual colleges and offices as well as a variety of constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, trustees, the Loyola Jesuit community and the Archbishop.
Throughout the fall of 2019, three points inspired by the individual Ignatian Examen, a 500-year old prayer practice originated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, will guide each conversation:
Looking back
- Where have we been/How have we done in the area of Mission?
- What has it meant for Loyola?
- What attitudes and observations based on past experience do I/we bring to this Mission Priority Examen?
Looking in
- In terms of our mission as a Jesuit, Catholic university, how are we doing now?
- Where are our values most evident?
- What is lacking?
- What does the mission mean to me/us?
Looking ahead
- How can we improve in living the mission?
- What 2-5 priorities ought I/we prioritize over the next several years?
The Peer Review
A Visiting Team of peer faculty/staff from other AJCU colleges and universities will visit New Orleans to interview members of the community and engage dialogue about the insights gleaned through the self-study and the mission priorities established by the university. The Visiting Team is responsible for compiling a report that assesses Loyola's priorities, offers suggestions for new or additional priorities, and affirms Loyola's commitment to its Jesuit identity and to the leadership of the Society of Jesus.
Timeline
Planning,
Preparing and Listening
Spring '19:
Executive Steering Committee designs process to engage stakeholders for input on areas of strength & opportunities for enhancing Loyola's mission.
Summer '19:
Executive Steering Committee develops communication plan, meeting agendas, activity materials & schedule of stakeholder engagements.
Fall '19:
Executive Steering Committee distributes campus wide survey and completes listening sessions with important stakeholder groups.
Dialoguing
Dialoguing
Fall '19:
Classes, teams and departments participate in reflective activities designed to encourage looking back, looking in and looking ahead to strengthen Loyola's mission.
Fall '19:
The community's collective wisdom is captured into a comprehensive Mission Examen Report.
Welcoming
and Celebrating
Spring '20:
The campus community hosts a visiting team of AJCU colleagues to more deeply explore findings from Mission Examen Report.
Spring '20:
Final Report is submitted to Jesuit Provincial and Father General Sosa & implementation of mission enhancements begin.
Steering Committee
Co-chairs
Carol Ann MacGregor
Vice Provost
Justin Daffron, S.J.
Vice President for Mission & Identity
Members of the Steering Committee
- Jeffrey Albert,Associate Professor of Music Industry Technology, College of Music and Media
- Amy Boyle, Office of Residential Life (Student Affairs representative) [spring only]
- Alice Clark, Professor of Music History, College of Music and Media
- Shannon Duplantis, Bursar (Financial Affars and Administration representative)
- Angelique Dyer, Digital Marketing Manager (Marketing and Communications / Staff Senate representative)
- Robert S. Gerlich, S.J., Associate Professor of History, College of Arts and Science
- Lesli D. Harris, Chief of Staff (Office of the President)
- Johanna Kalb, Associate Dean & Professor of Law, College of Law
- Laurie Eichelberger Leiva, Assistant Vice-President of Alumni Engagement(Institutional Advancement representative)
- John Levendis, Interim Dean; Professor of Economics, College of Business
- Hector Linares, Coordinator & Associate Clinical Professor, College of Law
- Mary M. Musso,Associate Director of Student Financial Services (Enrollment Management representative)
- Dale O'Neill, Director of Student Life and Ministry (Student Affairs Representative) [starting summer 2019]
- Deborah Poole,Dean of Libraries
- Dina Roudeze, Recruitment and Employer Events Manager, Student Success Center
- Carol Ann MacGregor, Associate Professor / Senior Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness and Faculty Development
- Angel Adams Parham,Associate Professor, Sociology department,College of Arts and Science
- Jessamyn Reichmann Young, President, Student Government Association (SGA)
- Gregory Waldrop, SJ, Assistant Professor of Art History & Rector of Jesuit Community
Peer Site Visit
The peer site visit will take place March 1 - 3, 2020.
Peer Visitors
Nicki Gonzales
Chief Diversity Officer, Regis University
Steven Hebert
Provost, John Carroll University
Cindy Schmersal
Vice President Mission and Ministry, Rockhurst University
Paul Vu, SJ
Assistant Dean of Students, Loyola Marymount University